"23 percent of the Girl Scouts right now are on scholarship. They wouldn't be able to participate if it weren't for the cookie program that funds that 23 percent of girls," said Hart.

It's an investment, leaders say says off. Hart says 98 percent of girls who go through the scouting program will never experience teen pregnancy, 96 percent will never use drugs. And former Girl Scouts are more likely to earn a bachelor's degree.

"80 percent of women business owners are girl scouts. 75 percent of women in congress are former girl scouts and every female astronaut that has flown in space is a girl scout," said Hart.

And it's those statistics that they hope will sway representatives to exempt thin mints, samoas and more from the state tax.